Smell of Decaying Bodies Is Everywhere: Myanmar Earthquake Survivors Share Grim Situation As Death Toll Surpasses 2,000
Myanmar Earthquake: On March 28, a catastrophic earthquake of 7.7 magnitude stuck Myanmar-Bangkok, leaving over 2,000 dead, and over 4,000 injured. The tremors were so intense that the region continued to experience aftershocks for three days. Today, on the fourth day, officials have confirmed that due to the collapse of a flyover, the rescue team took time to reach the spot, making it difficult to take out the dead bodies.
"At this point, more bodies are being recovered than survivors," Thar Nge, a resident, told the media. He further added, "Rescue teams from Mandalay couldn't reach us immediately because a bridge collapsed. That's why they only arrived today." Thar Nge also revealed the devastating condition of the country and disclosed the mental health toll that he going through as he has lost the last hope of finding his son alive.
In Mandalay, once a vibrant city, many bodies remain buried under the rubble, and the situation has become increasingly difficult as the days pass. The survivors have reported that despite the rescue operations, the stench of decay lingers everywhere, heightening the sense of despair. "The smell is unbearable," said one survivor, tears in their eyes. "It's the smell of death, and it's everywhere."
Along with crumpled roads, entire blocks of buildings either badly damaged or destroyed, and power cut to most of Mandalay and Sagaing, both cities sweltered in temperatures as high as 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit). Speaking to the media, another Earthquake victim said, "My mother and my two sons are still trapped under the debris."
According to the latest reports, almost 90 dead bodies have been recovered from the rubble so far, and more than 36 people have been rescued from their flattened homes, businesses and the numerous Buddhist temples in the area.
The death toll from last week's powerful earthquake in Myanmar has exceeded 2,000, state media reported Monday, with hundreds killed while praying in mosques and at least 270 Buddhist monks crushed in a collapsed monastery. Aid groups and the United Nations warned the disaster could worsen hunger and disease outbreaks in a country already struggling with civil war and restricted humanitarian access.
Relief efforts face significant challenges, including power outages, fuel shortages, and unreliable communication networks. A lack of heavy equipment has slowed rescue operations, forcing survivors to dig through rubble by hand in sweltering temperatures exceeding 40 C (104 F).
As Myanmar and Thailand continue to reel from the effects of the earthquake, the road to recovery will be long and filled with challenges. The immediate focus remains on search-and-rescue operations, but the coming days and weeks will require an international effort to rebuild communities, provide medical care, and restore basic services.
Survivors of the earthquake, many of whom have lost family members, homes, and livelihoods, will need extensive support to heal from both the physical and emotional scars of the disaster. The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and Bangkok is expected to worsen in the coming weeks unless aid can be delivered more swiftly and effectively.
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